Kerry Halladay, WLJ Managing Editor

The rally in the cash fed market was very short-lived. After seeing large volumes trade at up $4.00-4.50 live during the week starting Jan. 5, last week gave back those gains and then some. By Thursday afternoon, 44,575 cattle had been confirmed sold on negotiated trade at live prices of $162-165 and $260-265 dressed, down $5-15 from the prior week.

When was the last time you were told there is opportunity in agriculture? Not just opportunity for agriculture, but opportunity for U.S. agriculture? Have you been told you pursue a noble profession? Or one that will feed the world and may even bring peace?.

In recent weeks, the topic of antibiotic resistance has been in the public consciousness. On the one hand, a pair of reports was released in the UK on the topic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) looking at the costs of AMR and efforts to forestall it. And on the other hand, a potentially massive breakthrough was discovered in the U.

“We’re talking about growing the world population by 75-80 million people a year,” he said, citing averages derived from the projection of 9 billion people in 2050. “Who’s going to feed them? Whose role is it to feed those people? Is that an opportunity for U.

In recent weeks, the topic of antibiotic resistance has been in the public consciousness. On the one hand, a pair of reports was released in the UK on the topic of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) looking at the costs of AMR and efforts to forestall it. And on the other hand, a potentially massive breakthrough was discovered in the U.

“We’re talking about growing the world population by 75-80 million people a year,” he said, citing averages derived from the projection of 9 billion people in 2050. “Who’s going to feed them? Whose role is it to feed those people? Is that an opportunity for U.

The Southwest has had its share of hard times in recent years, but in terms of ranchland and ag real estate, it has been flying high. The greatest challenge in that market is also its biggest opportunity; there are willing buyers, but scant inventory. That equates to a seller’s market.

The Southwest has had its share of hard times in recent years, but in terms of ranchland and ag real estate, it has been flying high. The greatest challenge in that market is also its biggest opportunity; there are willing buyers, but scant inventory. That equates to a seller’s market.

It was off to the races at breakneck speed in the New Year’s first full week of market activity last week. Cash fed cattle traded early in the week at much higher money. By Thursday afternoon, over 97,000 head had been confirmed sold at $168-172 live and $270-275 (mostly $270-272) dressed.

It was off to the races at breakneck speed in the New Year’s first full week of market activity last week. Cash fed cattle traded early in the week at much higher money. By Thursday afternoon, over 97,000 head had been confirmed sold at $168-172 live and $270-275 (mostly $270-272) dressed.

J.R. Simplot, together with Texas-based Caviness Beef Packers, announced last week that they will be building a new beef processing plant near Kuna, ID. The projected 300,000 square foot facility is expected to begin operations in fall of 2016, assuming no permitting setbacks.

J.R. Simplot, together with Texas-based Caviness Beef Packers, announced last week that they will be building a new beef processing plant near Kuna, ID. The projected 300,000 square foot facility is expected to begin operations in fall of 2016, assuming no permitting setbacks.

“So far this week we’ve seen some light fed cattle sales in Nebraska and Iowa at $163 live and $260-262 dressed,” reported Troy Vetterkind of Vetterkind Cattle Brokerage. “Not enough volume to establish a market but suffice it to say it likely points to a higher cattle trade when all is said and done this week.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) long-term projections, the Southwest is expected to get higher than average levels of precipitation through May. However, this also comes with predictions of higher than average temperatures.

A recent study published in the Society for Range Management’s Rangelands journal paints a bleak picture of the future of ranching in the West. According to the researchers, at the current pace of agricultural aging, there won’t be any ranchers under the age of 35 by 2033.

As the year-end holiday season continues, the markets are calm. The most recent Cattle on Feed report showed a continuation of the ongoing build-up of cattle in feedlots. Cattle on feed numbers were up, placements were down slightly, and marketings were down considerably again.

Due to the holiday-shortened week last week and the subsequent lack of activity in the markets, there is not as much to report this week. But, in keeping with the theme of looking back on the year that’s about to fade into history, there were some distinct highlights in this year’s market that deserve reflection.

The most recent Cold Storage report came out last week showing red meat supplies in all freezers down fairly significantly year-over-year. Red meat in cold storage as of Nov. 30 stood at 919.08 million pounds, down 10 percent from the same time last year.

California state Senator Jerry Hill (D-13) submitted SB 27 to the state’s senate last month. Among other things, the bill would require a veterinary prescription for any use of “medically important” antibiotics in food animals. It would prohibit the use of such antibiotics for the sole purpose of weight gain or improved feed efficiency.

One of the biggest elements of market news last week was the unprecedented freefall seen in the feeder futures markets. For five solid days—from Dec. 12 through Dec. 17—every contract on the feeder board was limit down—a drop of $15 in all feeder contracts in less than a week!.